How narcissists disrupt bonding and connection in families
Similar to the alcoholic family, the narcissistic family develops roles for its family members, which we can think of as a cast of characters in a play, with the narcissist in the lead role. For the narcissist to maintain control and make this dysfunctional system work, other family members are cast in specific roles that support the lead character.
In most cases, the spouse validates the narcissistic partner, with the children inadvertently taking on roles of golden child, scapegoat, and lost child. There is one child who is favored, one who is bullied or picked on more than the others, and one who is ignored. Each role serves the needs of the narcissist.
